American Playwrights News

Marin Theatre Company announced today that, due to enthusiastic audience response, they will extend It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by eight performances. Bay Area audiences now have the opportunity to experience this Joe Landry's "fresh" stage adaptation of Frank Capra's classic holiday film through Sunday, December 23.

Abingdon Theatre Company, in an ongoing effort to recognize excellence in playwriting, established the Christopher Brian Wolk Award to be presented annually to an American writer of a full-length play not produced in New York City. The award is based upon the writer's demonstrated ability to reach a mature artistic vision using theatre. Playwright Rob Winn Anderson will receive the $1,000 cash award and a staged reading of his script The Tenth Son, directed by Jules Ochoa, at the award ceremony, tonight, December 10, starting at 7:00PM in the June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, Midtown, Manhattan.

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition today, December 10th and the 13th.

Five new plays (two fully staged workshop productions performed in repertory plus three staged readings) comprise Goodman Theatre's free 2012 New Stages Amplified in the Owen Theatre, a series that since 2004 has given audiences a first look at more than 50 new plays in development.

Goodman Theatre announces casting for the world-premiere production of Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn, praised as 'among the most provocative and probing of American playwrights today' (The New York Times) and noted as having 'his finger firmly on both the political and dramatic pulse of our times" (The Telegraph). A Goodman Theatre Commission-and part of the Goodman's 2011 New Stages festival-Teddy Ferrara, directed by Evan Cabnet, explores what happens when a tragedy sparks a movement--and the truth gets lost along the way.

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition on December 10th & 13th.

One of the nation's leading programs for emerging playwrights -- Cherry Lane Theatre's award-winning MENTOR PROJECT -- celebrates its 15th anniversary this season with the production of four new plays by emerging writers -- each of whom is paired with an accomplished mentor playwright -- from February 20, 2012 to April 13 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan. MENTOR PROJECT is the recipient of the Ross Wetzsteon Obie Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Development of New Work, along with the 2009 James Kirkwood Award for fostering and promoting the work of contemporary American playwrights.

Lincoln Center Theater's Platform Series, a forum for public discussion between Lincoln Center Theater artists and interested theatergoers, opens its 15th season with two pre-performance talks with the creators of its two new productions - Golden Boy and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Endangered Species Project (ESP)'s holiday selection is an adaptation of a French play (La Cuisine des Anges by Albert Husson), by the American playwrights Sam and Bella Spewack.

Abingdon Theatre Company, in an ongoing effort to recognize excellence in playwriting, established the Christopher Brian Wolk Award to be presented annually to an American writer of a full-length play not produced in New York City. The award is based upon the writer's demonstrated ability to reach a mature artistic vision using theatre. Playwright Rob Winn Anderson will receive the $1,000 cash award and a staged reading of his script The Tenth Son, directed by Jules Ochoa, at the award ceremony, December 10, starting at 7:00PM in the June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, Midtown, Manhattan.

Last season, the 2011 Best Production (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) Small Engine Repair started out in the "Off The Clock" series. Now, in the tradition of offering 'edgier' entertainment in this slot, Rogue Machine launches the World Premiere of Rob Mersola's Dirty Filthy Love Story tonight, November 24th at 8pm (no 10pm show that night).

The Greeks descend on modern day California in eSe Teatro's first full mainstage production, Luis Alfaro's Oedipus, El Rey, reacquainting audiences with the iconic tragedy through the lens of Chicano culture and ancient Mexican ritual. Set within the California prison system, the largest incarcerated population in the world, Oedipus, El Rey shows us gang hierarchy as it collides with fate. The play examines free will and whether the 'curse'of violence plaguing generations can be appeased without an ultimate sacrifice to the gods. Propheciesof the barrio rule the lives of its people, crushing families with the iron hand of 'el destino'(destiny). Has the path already been determined? How much is really up to us?

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 Season with a family friendly production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, which runs during the holiday season from November 23 to December 16. Jon Tracy directs Joe Landry's live radio play adaptation of Frank Capra's film It's a Wonderful Life. Opening night is on Tuesday, November 27.

Savio(u)r in association with the King's Head Theatre present A THORNTON WILDER CHRISTMAS with the first London revival in over 30 years of THE HAPPY JOURNEY TO TRENTON AND CAMDEN and THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER, a double bill of one-act plays by Thornton Wilder, directed by Tim Sullivan.

Last season, the 2011 Best Production (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) Small Engine Repair started out in the "Off The Clock" series. Now, in the tradition of offering 'edgier' entertainment in this slot, Rogue Machine launches the World Premiere of Rob Mersola's Dirty Filthy Love Story on Saturday, November 24th at 8pm (no 10pm show that night).

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 77 new American plays in its 20-year history - just held its 20th Anniversary Gala and dinner, last night, November 19 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and we bring you photo coverage below!

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 77 new American plays in its 20-year history - has announced that its 20th Anniversary Gala and dinner is set for tonight, November 19 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street) Manhattan, beginning at 6pm.

Lincoln Center Theater's Platform Series, a forum for public discussion between Lincoln Center Theater artists and interested theatergoers, opens its 15th season with two pre-performance talks with the creators of its two new productions - Golden Boy and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 Season with a family friendly production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, which runs during the holiday season from November 23 to December 16. Jon Tracy directs Joe Landry's live radio play adaptation of Frank Capra's film It's a Wonderful Life. Opening night is on Tuesday, November 27.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).